Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Abington Abbey: A Novel
Abington Abbey: A Novel

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Abington Abbey: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.
Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.
His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.
There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.
His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Abington Abbey: A Novel

Chapter XII

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.
Line 2
Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.
Line 3
His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.
Line 4
There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.
Line 5
His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

HIMSELF pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Running noun US /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.”

All words in this reading · 76

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

Abington

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

always

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

call

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

church

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

colleagues

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

Cooper

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

daughters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

ecclesiastical

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

eighty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

evening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

forbade

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

getting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

HIMSELFpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

infirm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

laid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

law

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

Mr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

Old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

otherwise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

own

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

parish

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

purpose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

ready

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

Rector

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Old Mr. Cooper, the Rector of Surley, was over eighty, and getting infirm.

Rectory

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

responsibility

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

runningnounUS /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

service

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

services

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

Surley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

taking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

tea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His own service was in the evening, and he was always willing to take that at Surley in the afternoon.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There was no one more ready to help him than the Vicar of Abington.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

UNBURDENS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

VICAR

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE VICAR UNBURDENS HIMSELF The Vicar was taking tea at Surley Rectory, after the afternoon service.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

willing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading His daughters took all the responsibility for 'running the parish' off his hands, but ecclesiastical law forbade their taking the services in church, which otherwise they would have been quite willing to do, and he had to call in help from among his colleagues for this purpose, when he was laid up.